Ancaster | |
|---|---|
Community/former town | |
 The historic 1834 Griffin House | |
  Ancaster  Ancaster | |
| Coordinates: 43°13′32″N 79°58′36″W / 43.22556°N 79.97667°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| City | Hamilton |
| Amalgamated | 2001 (with Hamilton) |
| Government | |
| • MP | Filomena Tassi |
| • MPP | Sandy Shaw |
| Area | |
| • Total | 176.63 km2 (68.20 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 40,557 |
| • Density | 229.6/km2 (595/sq mi) |
| 2020 Census | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Forward sortation area | |
| Area codes | 905 and 289 |
Ancaster is a historic town in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, located on the Niagara Escarpment.[1] Founded as a town in 1793, it immediately developed itself into one of the first significant and influential early British Upper Canada communities established during the late 18th century eventually amalgamating with the city of Hamilton in 2001. By 1823, due to its accessible waterpower and location at the juncture of prehistoric indigenous trading routes, Ancaster had become Upper Canada's largest industrial and commercial centre. Additionally, Ancaster had at that time attracted the 2nd largest populace (1,681) in Upper Canada, trailing only Kingston (population 2,500),[2] but surpassing the populations of nearby Toronto (1,376) and Hamilton (1,000).[3] After this initial period of prosperity in the late 18th century, sudden significant water and rail transportation advancements of the early 19th century would soon better benefit Ancaster's neighbouring towns nearer the Lake Ontario waterfront. Stationary steam engines for industries rapidly developing in the 19th century would eventually make Ancaster's water-powered industries less vital. As a result, after the 1820s, Ancaster's influence would begin to wane during the remainder of the 19th century.
From the late 19th century, Ancaster's population would remain static until 1946, when new subdivisions around the village were established. The population expanded further with the completion of the Hamilton-Ancaster section of Highway 403 in 1968 and the introduction of sewer systems in 1974. After 1970, its population has grown steadily from 15,000 residents to its present-day count of 40,557.
- ^ "About ACS". Archived from the original on 2015-08-11. Retrieved 2015-06-02.
- ^ "Kingston Historical Society Chronology of the History of Kingston". kingstonhistoricalsociety.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ ANCASTER The Past, Present and Future, A Brief prepared by The Ancaster Township Historical Society 1972